GB2274536A - Sign - Google Patents

Abstract

A sign has a plastics frame 10 with an opening 14, 16 for mounting sign plates 46, 48, 50, 52. The opening is defined by frame portion 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 of stepped, preferably T-section, so that relatively small sign plates 50, 52 can be mounted in the region of the T-stem 38, and larger cover plates 46, 48 can be located at the front (and rear), abutting the side of the T-stem 38. The large front plate 48 may be transparent and removable so that the array of small plates 50, 52 can be rearranged in response to circumstances to display different messages. A support 12 may be hinged to the frame 10, preferably via a hinge (70 - 84, Figure 6) that incorporates a stop (84) such that the support cannot go beyond a stable support configuration. <IMAGE>

Description

SIGN The present invention relates to signs, and to components for use in their construction. It particularly relates to free-standing signs for temporary use, e.g. to warn of roadworks or other hazards.

In one aspect the invention provides a sign assembly or components thereof, comprising a frame which preferably comprises plastics material, and which defines at least one opening, and wherein a frame portion which delimits at least part of a said opening has a profile which provides a first wall-portion extending in a direction through the opening, and a second wall-portion projecting inwardly of the first wall-portion to narrow the opening. Thus there may be an L-profile or, more preferably, a T-profile. Thus the opening will be stepped, having a large portion delimited by the first wall-portion, and a slightly smaller portion delimited by the second wall-portion. A large sign plate or cover can thus be fitted in the large portion of the opening so that an outer marginal portion of a principal face abuts a side of the second wall portion.A smaller sign plate can fit into the smaller part of the opening, delimited by the second wall portion. Preferably there are a plurality of sign plates, at least one being large and at least one being small. Particularly when the frame portion has a T-profile, with first wall-portions on either side of the second wall-portion, there are preferably at least two large sign plates, one on each side of the second wall-portion, with a small sign plate sandwiched between them.

The term "sign plate" is being used quite generally to refer to plate-like (or sheet-like) components of the sign, such as plates or sheets bearing or intended/adapted to bear indicia, backing plates or sheets, and cover plates or sheets which may be of transparent plastics material.

Preferably a sign embodying the invention has a first frame and a second component, which may be a second frame, hingedly connected to it so as to be hingeable between a folded configuration in which the sign is substantially flat, and an erected configuration in which the sign can be free-standing. The hingeing arrangement preferably includes a stop so that the components can be relatively hinged to, but not beyond, the erected configuration.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sign embodying the invention, in its erected configuration; Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are sections of the frame on A-A, B-B and C-C, respectively in Fig. 1.; Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig.

2 but also showing sign panels; and Fig. 6 is a detail of the region marked "D" on Fig.

1 showing a hinge.

The illustrated sign has a free-standing portable frame suitably made from recycled plastics. There is a main frame 10 to which is hinged a rear frame 12. The main frame is formed with two main sign openings 14,16.

The upper opening 14 is almost triangular, being slightly truncated. Thus it is delimited by two angled frame portions 18, a short upper horizontal frame portion 20 and a horizontal lower portion 22. The lower sign opening 16 is rectangular and is delimited by the horizontal frame portion 22, a bottom horizontal frame portion 24, and a pair of vertical portions 26.

Continuous with the vertical portions 26 below the sign opening 16 are leg portions 28. At an intermediate region these are connected by a bracing strut 30 which is connected by short uprights 32 to the horizontal frame portion 24 at the bottom of the lower opening 16.

Fig. 2 shows the cross-section of an angled frame portion 18. It has a rectangular box section portion 34.

One long side 36 provides first wall portions delimiting the edge of the upper opening 14. From an intermediate (in this case, central) region, a projection 38 (in this case having the form of a continuous short wall) extends inwardly for a short distance. Its end face 40 constitutes a second wall portion so that the opening 14 is delimited by a stepped surface composed of two portions of wall 36 and the face 40.

The frame portion 22 between the two sign openings 14, 16 has the section shown in Fig. 3. This is essentially identical to that shown in Fig. 2 except that the box section portion 42 has a projecting wall portion 44 extending from each long face. The other frame portions that delimit the sign openings 14, 16 are substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 2. The leg portions 28 that extend beneath the sign openings can be of simple box section which may be larger, as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 shows an array of sign panels which extend across the upper sign opening 14 (though only their edges, adjacent an angled frame portion 18, are shown).

In this particular example, there is a large rear panel 46 which extends substantially to the first wall portion 36 and is connected to the rear face of the projecting wall portion 38. This connection may be essentially permanent, e.g. being effected by welding, adhesion or mechanical fasteners. At the front of the sign, there is another large panel 48, which is detachably secured by any suitable means. For example, there may be mechanical fastening components such as snap-fasteners or portions of releasable binding material (e.g. Velcrotm).

Inbetween the large panels 46,48, two smaller panels 50,52 are shown. These are of such a size that they fit snugly in the reduced opening defined by the inner face 40 of the projecting wall portion 38. It can be seen that the thickness of the projecting wall 38 is slightly greater than the combined thickness of the small panels 50,52 which can thus be received snugly between the two larger panels 46,48.

All of the panels may bear messages to be displayed in particular circumstances and/or be adapted to receive messages. Thus initially the sign may display a message on the front large panel 48. If this is not required, then it can be removed to display a message on the front smaller panel 52. Removal of that panel enables a message on the second small panel 52 to be displayed, and removal of that panel allows a message on the rear panel 46 to be displayed. Of course, if the front panel 48 is opaque, it must be removed to display any of the other panels. Therefore the smaller panels would require to be secured in place, .e.g. by adhesive tape. But if the front panel 48 is wholly or partly transparent, the small panels 50,52 can be loose, so that they can be removed, replaced, and/or reordered quite simply.The smaller panels 50,52 (and the front panel 48) can, of course, carry different messages on their two principal face so that by reversing them, a further range of messages is available.

Of course, there are many ways of using the frame with associated panels. For example, there may be a fixed back panel 46, an intermediate small panel which is loose and which may be reflective, plain or illuminated, and a front, transparent panel 48. Several pre-printed message with translucent inks upon transparent film could be stored between the backing panel 46 and the loose panel. Any one of those could be displayed by placing it between the loose panel and the front transparent panel.

Typically there would be room for of the order of 12 different pre-printed films in storage, and they could be interchanged in seconds. If there was a sudden need for a non-standard message to be displayed, this could be handwritten on the front transparent panel.

Fig. 1 also shows the rear frame 12. This is basically an A-frame having a pair of angled side members 60 connected by a pair of horizontal transverse members 62,64. A cradle or pouch 66 is slung between the lower horizontal frame portion 30 of the front frame 10 and the lower transverse member 64 of the rear frame 12. In use this serves to carry weights, e.g. in the form of one or more sandbags, to stabilize the sign.

The upper ends of the side members 60 are pivotally connected to intermediate regions of the angled side frame portions 18 of the front frame 10. A hinge is shown in more detail in Fig. 6. On the rear of the frame member 18 of the front frame 10, there is a male hinge member 70. This has a base 72 by which it is secured to the frame member 18, and from a central region of which a projection 74 extends rearwardly. This projection 74 is part-circular in section, with a horizontal bore 76. A female hinge part 78 is a shaped block secured (e.g. by welding) on the end of a frame member 60. The block has a main profiled portion 80 and a pair of side plates 82.

They define an open box having a shaped recess that is in part complementary to the part-circular projection 74.

The projection is received therein, extending between the side plates 82. A pin passes through the bore 76 and is secured to the side plates 82, thus allowing pivoting of the female hinge part relative to the male hinge part.

The limit of pivoting is determined by abutment of an angled face 84 of the female hinge part with the base 72 of the male hinge portion, and/or with the frame member 18.

Reverting to the main frame, the illustrated embodiment has display openings bounded by frame portions wityh symmetrical T-profiles. Other possible profiles include non-symmetrical T, double T (or ) and, less preferably, an L-profile.

Claims (14)

1. Sign means comprising a frame which defines at least one opening, and wherein a frame portion which delimits at least part of a said opening has a profile which provides a first wall-portion extending in a direction through the opening, and at least one second wall-portion projecting inwardly of the first wallportion to narrow the opening so that the opening is stepped, having at least one large portion delimited by the first wall-portion, and at least one smaller portion delimited by the second wall-portion(s).

2. Sign means according to claim 1 including a sign plate or cover dimensioned to be fitted in the large portion of the opening so that an outer marginal portion of a principal face abuts a side of the, or a, second wall portion.

3. Sign means according to claim 1 or claim 2 including a sign plate dimensioned to fit into a smaller part of the opening, delimited by the or a second wall portion.

4. Sign means according to claim 1 having a plurality of sign plates, at least one being relatively large and dimensioned to be fitted in the large portion of the opening so that an outer marginal portion of a principal face abuts a side of the, or a second wall portion; and at least one being relatively small and dimensioned to fit into the small part of the opening, delimited by the or a second wall portion.

5. Sign means according to claim 4, having a plurality of small sign plates located in a smaller opening portion; and a transparent relatively large plate located removably in the larger opening portion in front of them, so that the appearance of the sign can be variei by removing the large plate and reconfiguring the plurality of small plates before replacing the large plate.

6. Sign means according to any previous claim wherein the or each second wall-portion projects inwardly from an intermediate region of the first wall portion thus providing a T-profile with a large opening portion on each side of the small opening portion.

7. Sign means according to claim 6 including two sign plates each located in a respective large opening portion and being dimensioned so that an outer marginal portion of a principal face abuts a side of the, or a, second wall portion; and a smaller sign plate sandwiched between the larger plates and located in the small opening portion.

8. Sign means according to any preceding claim including a second support component, hingedly connected to the frame so as to be hingeable between a folded configuration in which the sign is substantially flat, and an erected configuration in which the sign can be free-standing.

9. Sign means according to claim 8 wherein the hinging arrangement includes a stop so that the components can be relatively hinged to, but not beyond, the erected configuration.

10. Sign means according to claim 9 wherein a first one of the hinged components provides a male hinge part including a part-circular projection and the second hinged component provides an opening in which the projection is rotatably received; the opening being delimited at the outer edge by a lip having an abutment surface which is spaced from the first hinged component in the folded configuration but abuts it in the erected configuration, thus constituting said stop.

11. Sign means according to any preceding claim wherein the frame is of plastics material.

12. Sign means according to any preceding claim wherein said opening of the frame is substantially completely defined by frame portions having said profile.

13. Sign means according to any preceding claim having two sign-plate receiving openings each delimited at least in part by a frame portion having a profile as defined.

14. A sign assembly or set of components therefore substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.